A “complex ambush” by about 100 “terrorists” killed two civilians and 50 “terrorists” in northern Burkina Faso on Wednesday, the army said on Thursday.

The attack targeted a military escort of a food convoy for the people of Titao, near the border with Mali. The army said it fought back and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers.

Burkina has been facing jihadist violence since 2015 that has spread from Mali and Niger and killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than two million.

The prime minister said on Tuesday that there would be no “negotiation” with the jihadists and that security had to be restored before elections could take place.

Burkina, which had two coups in 2022, is ruled by Captain Ibrahim Traoré who must hand over power to civilians in July 2024 after a presidential election.